Exposure meter



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NGK w "T AVMBLE COPY H. F, TNNES Y Feb. 21, 1939.

EXPOSURE METER Filed March 24, 1957 Patented Feb. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 24, 1937, Serial No.

In Germany June 8, 1935 8 Claims. (Cl. 88-23) This invention relates to exposure meters and photoelectric apparatus for measuring the brightness value of a scene to be photographed and auxiliary devices for determining the desired final values or exposure data (time of exposure and diaphragm opening) from the measured brightness value.

Tables or tabulations of exposure data may be employed to ascertain the final values corresponding to a particular brightness value, but the usual practice is to employ some form of rotary disk computer for determining the exposure data from the emulsion speed, the measured brightness and/or the character of the scene. An error in the transfer of the instrument reading to a tabulation or computer will result in a faulty indication of the exposure data.

An object of the present invention is to provide an exposure meter of the photoelectric measuring system and computer type, in which the measuring instrument and computer elements are so positioned that the instrument pointer serves as a mark for indicating the appropriate adjustment of one computer element; An object is to provide an exposure meter of the type stated in which a movable element of the computer carries a mark or pointer that is movable along the instrument scale, the computer elements having cooperating graduationsof exposure factors for indicating complementary shutter speed and diaphragm values for a given deflection of the instrument pointer when the mark ofthe computer element is alined with the deflected pointer. An object is to provide an exposure meter including a photoelectric cell and an instrument having a pointer displaceable in accordance with the brightness of a scene to be photographed, and three relatively movable elements carrying scales or graduations of exposure factors; one of the movable elements carrying a mark for alinement with the deflected instrument pointer to set the elements into position to indicate the appropriate exposure data. A further object is to provide an exposure meter having the characteristics last stated, in which the instrument scale forms, in eifect, a part of the computer and may comprise a series of lines extending between the path of movement of the instrument pointer and the path of movement' of the mark'carried by one of the computer elements.

. These and other objects and advantages of' the invention will be apparent from the following `as taken on line 2 2 specication when taken drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation with parts in section 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of another embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the computer elements thereof. 1o

In the drawing, the reference numeral I identiiles the casing which houses a photoelectric cell 2 that is positioned back of therbaille system 3 which restricts the light rays which reach the cell to those reflected from the scene r object l5 to be photographed. The casing may have an opening therethrough in which a view finder 4 is arranged for facilitating the directing of the exposure meter towards the scene. The cell 2 is connected in known manner to the coil of the moving system of a sensitive milliammeter 5 that is housed within the casing I. The moving system includes a pointer or needle 6 that, preferably, is reversely bent at its outer end to overlie a scale plate `I that is visible through a window 8 at the rear face of the casing I.

The computer system for indicating the exposure data appropriate for a given deflection of the instrument pointer 6 comprises a plurality of relatively rotatable disks adjustable about an axis concentric with the axis of the movable system of the measiu'ing instrument. The inner disk 9 may be integral with the casing 4I or secured thereto by a screw III, an intermcdiate disk II is rotatably mounted on disk 9 and car- 35 ries a knob I2 for adjusting the same, and the outer disk I3 is rotatable on disk II and, preferwith the accompanying ably, has a knurled edge projecting below the casing I to facilitate its adjustment. A pin I4 extends through an arcuate slot vI5 in casing I to connect the computer disk I3 to a plate cr strip I6 that has a pointer or ducial mark I1 movable over the inner edge of the scale plate l. The plate I 6 is pivotally supported on a bolt I8 that extends axially through the disks and casing, and a spring arm I9 is ilxed to the plate I6 and bears against the inner face of the casing to provide a limited frictional resistance to rotation of disk I3 and plate I 6.

The usual numeral markings may be placed on the scale plate I but the only essential markings consist in a series of approximately radial guide lines 20 for indicating the appropriate angular adjustment of the disk I3 of the computer for any given deection of the instrument pointer 6. rPhe departure of lines 20 from an exact radial location depends upon the sensitivity characteristics of the measuring instrument and the arrangement of 5 upon the computer disks.

It will be understood that the cooperating sets of exposure data values may be arranged on the several disks in different ways. As shown in Fig. 1, the outer or adjustablev disk i3 carries graduations of time of exposure, the intermediate disk il carries a cooperating scale of diaphragm openings and a scale of emulsion speeds The xed disk, 9 has two marks 2i, 22 cooperating with the emulsion speed graduations to indicate the adjustment for different iilms or plates under solar and artiiicial illumination, respectively.,

The adjustment of the intermediate disk il is a relatively xed adjustment as it remains constant for any one type of film or plate. Only the disk i3 need be adjusted to obtain the desired iinal values corresponding to a given instrument indication and appropriate means is provided for creating a greater frictional resistance to movement of disk li than ofdisk E3. These graduated frictional resistances may be provided, as indicated in Fig. 2, for example by a tight iit of disks Q and it, and a relatively loose disks ll and i3.

The method of employing the apparatus will now be described. The disk ii is first adjusted to aline the particular emulsion speed graduation of that disk with the appropriate mark 2l or 22 of disk d. The front of the exposure meter is then directed towards the scene, and the disk i3 is angularly adjusted to bring the mark i1 to that line 2d of the scale plateV to which the instrument pointer d is deected. The cooperating graduations of diaphragm openings and shutter speeds of disks ll and i3 are thus alined to indicate exposure data appropriate for the measured brightness of the` scene to be photographed.

It is to be noted that the ducial mark l1 could be placed direct]I upon the disk i3, but the described arrangement of the-iiducial mark l1 in the plane of the instrument pointer 6 is to be preferred since it avoids errors from parallax when the scale plate and pointers are viewed at an angle.

In the modiiication shown in Figs. 3 and 4, those parts which are or may 'the described construction are identied by corresponding reference numerals but will vnot be described in detail. This embodiment includes a rotatable staff 23 coaxial with the moving system of the instrument and having secured thereto the inner disk 24 of the computer and the disk I6 which carries the iiducial mark l1. The outer end of the staff 23 is of non-circular cross-section, `preferably square, and the disk 24 is tted thereon and secured thereto by a screw 25.. The disk 24 has a knob 26 for rotating the same with reference to the underlying disk 21 that has an adjusting knob 28. A spring iinger 29 is secured to the casing I and engages the disk 26 to create a frictional that which tends to prevent of the-disk 2l.

Fiducial marks 2l, 22 are provided onthe casing I to cooperate with an emulsion speed scale on disk 21 for indicating adjustments appropriate, respectively, for solar or artificial illumination. The disk 21 also carries diaphragm opening graduations` for cooperation with `shutter 7 5 speed graduations on the adjustable disk 2l.

angular adjustment the graduations l a scale plate; a'casing for said instrument havfit of` alinement'with said instrument pointer.

' pointer.

be identical with A resistance greater than The operation of this form of the invention will be obvious'fromfthe description of the exposure meter shown in Figs. 1 and 2. x

It will be seen that the invention eliminates the possibility of error in the setting of a calcu- 5 lator element in accordance with the observed deection of the instrument pointer. I have described preferred embodiments of the invention but it is to be understood that the structural design is subject to -wide variation and that the particular exposure factors that are placed upon the several scales may be interchanged without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim: i 1

1. In an exposure meter; a measuring instrument having a, pivotally supported moving system, a pointer carried by said moving system and ing an opening'for viewing said scale plate and pointer; a photoelectric cell connected to said instrument; a relatively xed and a movable disk forming a computer, and means supporting said disks upon said casing adjacent said window, said disks having cooperating graduations of exposure time and diaphragm openings; and a member within said casing carrying a flducial mark, and means connecting said member to said movable disk for effecting movement of said member to displace said ducial mark into 2. An exposure meter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said scale plate has guide lines thereon for alining the ducial mark with said pointer,- and said fiducial mark and instrument pointer move in substantially the same plane.

3. An exposure meter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said scale plate is positioned betwee said moving system and the window, the en of said pointer extending beyond and being re versely bent to overlie the outer edge of the scal plate, and said ducial mark is pivotally sup ported within said casing and movable in th plane of movement of the end of the instrumeni 4. An exposure beneath and beyond said scale plate with t outer end thereof reversely bent to travel ov the outer edge of the .scale plate, guide lin extending approximately radially across sa and a movable pointer, cooperating exposure factor graduatio on said disks, and 'member within said cas' and secured to said movable disk, said mem carrying a rlducial mark displaceable along t iiner ends of the guide lines of said scale pla 5. An exposure meter as claimed in claim in combination with means supportingv said r atively fixed disk for angular adjustment on s casing, and cooperating sets of markings setting said relatively xed disk to positions c responding to emulsion speeds, one set of m .ingsgbeing stationary with respect to said c ing and the other set being on said relati xed disk.

6. An-exposure meter as claimed in cla' wherein said movable disk is the inner dis said computer, and friction means is provi mately radial guide lines, a casing housing said instrument and having an opening for viewing said scale and pointer, a pair oi' concentric disks supported on said casing for angular adjustment, cooperating graduations of diaphragm openingsandexposurotimesonsaiddiskaa single nducial mark secured to one of said disks and movable thereby along said scale, a cooperating setting mark and -lm speed scale carried l by said casing and the second disk, and friction respect to said casing. 8. Apparatus as said disks are of different diameter, and said iiducial mark is carried by the larger diameter 10 disk.

claimed in claim 7, wherein 

